High School Boys Baseball Sectionals
Mount Pulaski wins in extras over Armstrong 5-1

 

[May 23, 2024] 

The Hilltoppers won game one of the Class 1A Sectional in Arcola on Wednesday night and it took a little extra time to get the job done.

Mount Pulaski and Armstrong were tied 1-1 going into the top of the ninth inning when the Hilltoppers plated four runs and came out on top 5-1.

Armstrong scored a run in the bottom of the second inning after a walk and an error put runners on base. Chance Payne would strike out the next three batters but not before Kollin Asbury stole home with the first run of the game for the Trojans.

In the top of the fifth inning Mount Pulaski tied the game when Payne singled to drive in Eric Cooper, who had walked earlier in the inning.

Payne was still pitching strong in the seventh inning when he struck out two batters, bringing his game total to 14 strikeouts. It was a terrific performance by Payne, who allowed just four hits and one run over seven innings. The run was unearned. Payne walked one batter.

Eric Cooper pitched the final two innings for Mount Pulaski and he was outstanding on the mound. Cooper walked one and struck out two while not allowing a hit or a run. Cooper earned the win as Mount Pulaski rallied in the top of the ninth inning.

The Hilltoppers rally in the ninth began with a walk to Colt Selinger and Mount Pulaski took the lead after a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, a hit by pitch and finally a walk to Luke Martin to send Selinger home with the go-ahead run. After looking at strike one, Tyler Cross sent a line drive to right field to score Payne and Landon Smith to make the score 4-1. Mount Pulaski added the fifth run when Martin scored on a passed ball.

Cooper sent the Trojans down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning with the help of the defense behind him. A pop out to second and two consecutive fly outs to center fielder Aaron Volle gave Mount Pulaski reason to celebrate the 5-1 win.

Tyler Cross led the Mount Pulaski offense by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Chance Payne and Luke Martin each had a hit and an RBI for Mount Pulaski.

Mount Pulaski coach Joel Washko was proud of his team’s resilience in the win and offered this after the game.

“It was one of the gutsiest wins I’ve been a part of,” said Washko. “We had some things not go our way early, but we hung in there and just kept fighting. Chance Payne was outstanding on the mound. He lived in the strike zone and made hardly any mistakes with his pitches. He pitched out of a big bases loaded no-out jam in the third inning that kept the score 1-0. Liam Smith made a huge play to get a force at home for the first out of that inning. Eric Cooper came in and pitched out of a jam with runners on second and third and one out by striking out back-to-back hitters which gave us a shot in the ninth inning. We did a good job executing at the plate, which we had struggled with earlier. In the top of the ninth inning, Colt Selinger drew a walk, Eric Cooper bunted him over, and then Liam Smith lined out to deep center and got Colt to third. After loading the bases on a walk and hit by pitch, Luke Martin was patient and drew a walk to give us the lead. Tyler Cross did a great job of putting a couple tough at bats behind him by being aggressive and singling through the right side to score two runs for insurance. I’m really proud of this team for battling the entire game especially when things weren’t going our way.”

Mount Pulaski improved to 26-3 on the season.

The Hilltoppers will play Gibson City on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. for the Sectional Championship in Arcola.

[Teena Lowery]

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